Mountains to Molehills: 'Still paying'

Published: Friday, July 4, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 1:38 p.m.

Hendersonville’s Sharon Mills, responding to Stephen Jones’ thoughts on the effects of capitalism on the poor, says it must be a “lovely worldview” in the man’s house. “Mr. Jones needs to face that capitalism has always reproduced widespread poverty as the other side of profits for a relative few,” she says. “Corporate decisions generally aim to lower the number of workers, their wages or both. These decisions include automation, exporting/outsourcing jobs and replacing higher paid older workers with younger and cheaper ones willing to work for less. Most workers respond to these corporate decisions by accepting what is dished out in order to avoid falling into poverty. Additionally, poverty looms with cut wages, pensions and medical benefits. Because corporations do not want to finance budget deficits and national debt, politicians are ‘purchased’ by them to focus on cutting social programs for the great majority of us. Finally, conservatives can never resist rewriting history by pretending Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the New Deal failed. History matters here. The Ronald Reagan economy failed. The rich got much richer, while middle-class incomes remained stagnant, and poverty actually increased. Mr. Jones, most of us are still paying for the follies of Reaganomics. And the Bushes only made it worse.”

THE POOR TEACHER!: It was at the end of the school year, and a kindergarten teacher was receiving gifts from her pupils. The florist’s son handed her a gift. She shook it, held it overhead, and said, “I bet I know what it is. Some flowers.” “That’s right” the boy said, “but how did you know?” “Oh, just a wild guess,” she said. The next pupil was the candy shop owner’s daughter. The teacher held her gift overhead, shook it, and said, “I bet I can guess what it is. A box of sweets.” “That’s right, but how did you know?” asked the girl. “Oh, just a wild guess,” said the teacher. The next gift was from the son of the liquor store owner. The teacher held the package overhead, but it was leaking. She touched a drop of the leakage with her finger and touched it to her tongue. “Is it wine?” she asked. “No,” the boy replied with some excitement. The teacher repeated the process, taking a larger drop of the leakage to her tongue. “Is it champagne?” she asked. “No,” the boy replied with more excitement. The teacher took one more taste before declaring, “I give up, what is it?” With great glee, the boy replied, “It’s a puppy!”

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The Music On Main Street concert tonight will feature a special patriotic tribute show from Tom Brown, One Man Band. Henderson County will launch an Independence Day fireworks display at sundown in Jackson Park, and downtown Hendersonville and the concert area will offer great viewing. Enjoy the concert and fireworks from the comfort of your chair at Music On Main Street from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Mr. Brown has been a professional entertainer since the late ’50s. He will be performing some patriotic music as well as popular tunes such as “Crazy,” “Duke of Earl,” “Loco-Motion,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Mack The Knife,” “Old Time Rock & Roll,” “Proud Mary,” “Rocky Top” and “Under the Boardwalk.” As part of the July 4th celebration, all military veterans will be recognized along with those currently serving in our armed forces. All men and women having served in the military are requested to attend wearing a cap, T-shirt or some other source of military identification, and those actively serving are asked to wear their uniform. The Music On Main Street concert series will be held every Friday evening through Aug. 15 at the Visitors Center.

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